Study reveals cancer diagnosis is more deadly in blacks

Other study findings:

Racial differences: The largest racial differences are for prostate, oral and female breast cancers. African Americans had MIRs nearly twice those of whites.

Female breast cancer: The MIR for breast cancer among white females is at the national average or below for all but two regions – the Pee Dee and the region around Orangeburg to the Savannah River Site – of South Carolina. Among African-American females, the MIR is at between 10 and 20 percent higher than the national average in one region and more than 20 percent higher in the state’s remaining seven regions.

Colorectal cancer: Colorectal cancer MIRs for white men and women is at the national average or below in every part of the state. But for African Americans living in the Pee Dee and the counties along the Grand Strand and Lowcountry, the MIR is above the national average by at least 20 percent.

Oral cancer: Among whites, only one region of the state is more than 20 percent higher than the national average for oral cancer. This region includes Aiken, Barnwell, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Bamberg and Allendale counties. However, the oral cancer MIR for African Americans is greater than 20 percent of the national average in all but four counties: Hampton, Colleton, Jasper and Beaufort. These four counties are about 10 percent higher than the national average.

Prostate cancer: In 43 of the state’s 46 counties, the MIR for lung cancer among African Americans is more than 20 percent of the national average. The remaining three counties – Williamsburg, Georgetown and Horry counties – are 10 to 20 percent higher than the national average.

Lung cancer: The MIR for lung cancer among whites was at or below the national average for the three regions along the coast of South Carolina and up to 10 percent higher for the remaining five regions. Among African Americans, however, only three counties in the Palmetto State – Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties – were at the national average. The remaining 43 counties were above the national average.